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28 USC Sec. 132 01/24/94
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TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
PART I - ORGANIZATION OF COURTS
CHAPTER 5 - DISTRICT COURTS
-HEAD-
Sec. 132. Creation and composition of district courts
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(a) There shall be in each judicial district a district court
which shall be a court of record known as the United States
District Court for the district.
(b) Each district court shall consist of the district judge or
judges for the district in regular active service. Justices or
judges designated or assigned shall be competent to sit as judges
of the court.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by law, or rule or order of
court, the judicial power of a district court with respect to any
action, suit or proceeding may be exercised by a single judge, who
may preside alone and hold a regular or special session of court at
the same time other sessions are held by other judges.
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(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 895; Nov. 13, 1963, Pub. L.
88-176, Sec. 2, 77 Stat. 331.)
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HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 1, and section 641 of
title 48, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Territories and Insular Possessions
(Apr. 30, 1900, ch. 339, Sec. 86, 31 Stat. 158; Mar. 3, 1909, ch.
269, Sec. 1, 35 Stat. 838; Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, Sec. 1, 36 Stat.
1087; July 30, 1914, ch. 216, 38 Stat. 580; July 19, 1921, ch. 42,
Sec. 313, 42 Stat. 119; Feb. 12, 1925, ch. 220, 43 Stat. 890; Dec.
13, 1926, ch. 6, Sec. 1, 44 Stat. 19).
Section consolidates section 1 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., and
section 641 of title 48, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with changes in
phraseology necessary to effect the consolidation.
Subsection (c) is derived from section 641 of title 48, U.S.C.,
1940 ed., which applied only to the Territory of Hawaii. The
revised section, by extending it to all districts, merely
recognizes established practice.
Other portions of section 1 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., are
incorporated in sections 133 and 134 of this title. The remainder
of section 641 of title 48, U.S.C., 1940 ed., is incorporated in
sections 91 and 133 of this title.
AMENDMENTS
1963 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 88-176 inserted ''regular'' before
''active service''.
CONTINUATION OF ORGANIZATION OF COURT
Section 2(b) of act June 25, 1948, provided in part that the
provisions of this title as set out in section 1 of act June 25,
1948, with respect to the organization of the court, shall be
construed as a continuation of existing law, and the tenure of the
judges, officers, and employees thereof and of the United States
attorneys and marshals and their deputies and assistants, in office
on Sept. 1, 1948, shall not be affected by its enactment, but each
of them shall continue to serve in the same capacity under the
appropriate provisions of this title pursuant to his prior
appointment.
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CROSS REFERENCES
Guam and Virgin Islands district courts, see sections 1424, 1424b
and 1611 et seq. of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.
Assignment of district judges to other districts or courts, see
section 292 et seq. of this title.
Authority to create courts inferior to Supreme Court, see Const.,
Art. 3, Sec. 1.
Jurisdiction and venue of district courts, see sections 1331 et
seq. and 1391 et seq. of this title.
Three-judge courts, composition and procedure, see section 2284
of this title.
77 Stat. 331] PUBLIC LAW 88-176-NOV. 13, 1963.
Public Law 88-176
AN ACT
To clarify the status of circuit and district judges retired from
regular active service.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) paragraph
(b) of section 43 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
"(b) Each court of appeals shall consist of the circuit judges
of the circuit in regular active service. The circuit justice and
justices or judges designated or assigned shall also be competent
to sit as judges of the court."
(b) Paragraph (c) of section 46 of title 28, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
"(c) Cases and controversies shall be heard and determined by
a court or division of not more than three judges, unless a hearing
or rehearing before the court in banc is ordered by a majority of
the circuit judges of the circuit who are in regular active service·
A court in banc shall consist of all circuit judges in regular active
service. A circuit judge of the circuit who has retired from regular
active service shall also be competent to sit as a judge of the
court in banc in the rehearing of a case or controversy if he sat
in the court or division at the original hearing thereof."
Sec. 2. Paragraph (b) of section 132 of title 28, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
"(b) Each district court shall consist of the district judge
or judges for the district in regular active service. Justices or
judges designated or assigned shall be competent to sit as judges
of the court·"
Sec. 3. The first sentence of section 332 of title 28, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows: "The chief judge of
each circuit shall call, at least twice in each year and at such
places as he may designate, a council of the circuit judges for
the circuit, in regular active service, at which he shall preside."
Approved November 13, 1963.
31 Stat. 141] FIFTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. SESS. I. Ch.
339. 1900.
Chap. 339.--An Act To provide a government for the Territory
of Hawaii.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
31 Stat. 158] FIFTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Sess.
I. Ch. 339. 1900.
Chapter 5.--United States Officers.
Federal Court.
SEC. 86. That there shall be established in said Territory
a district court to consist of one judge, who shall reside therein
and be called the district judge. The President of the United States,
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States,
shall appoint a district judge, a district attorney, and a marshal
of the United States for the said district, and said judge, attorney,
and marshal shall hold office for six years unless sooner removed
by the President. Said court shall have, in addition to the ordinary
jurisdiction of district courts of the United States, jurisdiction
of all cases cognizable in a circuit court of the United States,
and shall proceed therein in the same manner as a circuit court;
and said judge, district attorney, and marshal shall have and exercise
in the Territory of Hawaii all the powers conferred by the laws
of the United States upon the judges, district attorneys, and marshals
of district and circuit courts of the United States. Writs of error
and appeals from said district court shall be had and allowed to
the circuit court of appeals in the ninth judicial circuit in the
same manner as writs of error and appeals are allowed from circuit
courts to circuit courts of appeals as provided by law, and the
laws of the United States relating to juries and jury trials shall
be applicable to said district court. The laws of the United States
relating to appeals, writs of error, removal of causes, and other
matters and proceedings as between the courts of the United States
and the courts of the several States shall govern in such matters
and proceedings as between the courts of the United States and the
courts of the Territory of Hawaii. Regular terms of said court shall
be held at Honolulu on the second Monday in April and October and
at Hilo on the last Wednesday in January of each year; and special
terms may be held at such times and places in said district as the
said judge may deem expedient. The said district judge shall appoint
a clerk for said court at a salary of three thousand dollars per
annum, and shall appoint a reporter of said court at a salary of
twelve hundred dollars per annum.
35 Stat. 838] SIXTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 269.
1909.
CHAP. 269. An Act To amend section eighty-six of an Act
to provide a government for the Territory of Hawaii, to provide
for additional judges, and for other judicial purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section eighty-six
of the Act approved April thirtieth, nineteen hundred, entitled
"An Act to provide a government for the Territory of Hawaii," be,
and the same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows:
"Sec. 86. There shall be established in the said Territory a
district court, to consist of two judges, who shall reside therein
and be called district judges, and who shall each receive an annual
salary of six thousand dollars. The said court while in session
shall be presided over by only one of said judges. The two judges
shall from time to time, either by order or rules of court, prescribe
at what times and. in what class of cases each of them shall preside.
The said two judges shall have the same powers in all matters coming
before said court.
"The President of the United States, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate of the United States, shall appoint two district
judges, a district attorney, and a marshal of the United States
for the said district, and said judges, attorney, and marshal shall
hold office for six years unless sooner removed by the President.
"The said court shall have, in addition to the ordinary jurisdiction
of district courts of the United States, jurisdiction of all cases
cognizable in a circuit court of the United States, and shall proceed
therein in the same manner as a circuit court; and the said judges,
district attorney, and marshal shall have and exercise in the Territory
of Hawaii all the powers, conferred by the laws of the United States
upon the judges, district attorneys, and marshals of district and
circuit courts of the United States.
35 Stat. 839
"Writs of error and appeals, from the said district court shall
be had and allowed to the circuit court of appeals for the ninth
judicial circuit in the same manner as writs of error and appeals
are allowed from circuit courts to circuit courts of appeal as provided
by law, and appeals and writs of error may be taken to the Supreme
Court of the United States from said district court in cases where
appeals and writs of error are allowed from the district and circuit
courts of the United States to the Supreme Court, and the laws of
the United States relating to juries and jury trials shall be applicabIe
to said district court. The laws of the United States relating to
appeals, writs of error, removal of causes, and other matters and
proceedings as between the courts of the United States and the courts
of the several States shall govern in such matters and proceedings
as between the courts of the United States and the courts of the
Territory of Hawaii. Regular terms of said court shall be held in
Honolulu on the second Monday in April and October, and special
terms may be held at such times and places in said district as the
said judges may deem expedient. The said district judges shall appoint
a clerk of said court at a salary of three thousand dollars per
annum and shall appoint a reporter of said court at a salary of
one thousand two hundred dollars per annum: Provided, That writs
of error and appeals may also be taken from the supreme court of
the Territory of Hawaii to the Supreme Court of the United States
in all cases where the amount involved, exclusive of costs, exceeds
the sum or value of five thousand dollars."
36 Stat. 1087] SIXTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. III.
CH. 231. 1911.
CHAP. 231.--An Act To codify, revise, and amend the laws relating
to the judiciary.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
laws relating to the judiciary be, and they hereby are, codified,
revised, and amended, with title, chapters, head-notes, and sections,
entitled, numbered, and to read as follows:
TITLE.
THE JUDICIARY.
CHAPTER ONE.
DISTRICT COURTS---ORGANIZATION.
Sec. 1. In each of the districts described in chapter
five, there shall be a court called a district court, for which
there shall be appointed one judge, to be called a district judge;
except that in the northern district of California, the northern
district of Illinois, the district of Maryland, the district of
Minnesota, the district of Nebraska, the district of New Jersey,
the eastern district of New York, the northern and southern districts
of Ohio, the districts of Oregon, the eastern and western districts
of Pennsvlvania, and the western district of Washington, there shall
be an additional district judge in each, and in the southern district
of New York, three additional district judges: Provided, That whenever
a vacancy shall occur in the office of the district judge for the
district of Maryland, senior in commission, such vacancy shall not
be filled, and thereafter there shall be but one district judge
in said district: Provided further, That there shall be one judge
for the eastern and western districts of South Carolina, one judge
for the eastern and middle districts of Tennessee, and one judge
for the northern and southern districts of Mississippi: Provided
further, That the district judge for the middle district of Alabama
shall continue as heretofore to be a district judge for the northern
district thereof. Every district judge shall reside in' the district
or one of the districts for which he is appointed, and for offending
against this provision shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor.
38 Stat. 580] SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS, Sess. II.- Ch.
216. 1914.
CHAP. 216.--An Act To amend section one of an Act entitled
"An Act to codify, revise, and amend the laws relating to the judiciary,"
approved March third, nineteen hundred and eleven.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section one
of the Act entitled "An Act to codify, revise, and amend the laws
relating to the judiciary," approved March third, nineteen hundred
and eleven, be, and is hereby, amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. In each of the districts described in chapter five
there shall be a court called a district court, for which there
shall be appointed one judge, to be called a district judge, except
that in the northern district of California, the southern district
of California, the
38 Stat. 581]
northern district of Illinois, the district of Minnesota, the
district of Nebraska, the district of New Jersey, the eastern district
of New York, the northern and southern districts of Ohio, the district
of Oregon, the eastern and western districts of Pennsylvania, and
the western district of Washington, there shall be an additional
district judge in each, and in the southern district of New York
three additional district judges: Provided, That there shall be
one judge for the eastern and western districts of South Carolina,
one judge for the eastern and middle districts of Tennessee, and
one judge for the northern and southern districts of Mississippi:
Provided further, That the district judge for the middle district
of Alabama shall continue as heretofore to be a district judge for
the northern district thereof. Every district judge shall reside
in the district or one of the districts for which he is appointed,
and for offending against this provision shall be deemed guilty
of a high misdemeanor."
Approved, July 30, 1914.
42 Stat. 119] SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. CH.
42. 1921.
Sec. 313. Section 86 of the Hawaiian Organic Act is hereby amended
to read as follows:
"Sec. 86. (a) That there shall be established in the said Territory
a district court, to consist of two judges, who shall reside therein
and be called district judges, and who shall each receive an annual
salary of $7,500. The said court while in session shall be presided
over by only one of said judges. The two judges shall from time
to time, either by order or rules of the court, prescribe at what
times and in what class of cases each of them shall preside. The
said two judges shall have the same powers in all matters coming
before said court."
42 Stat. 120
(b) The President of the United States, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate of the United States, shall appoint two
district judges, a district attorney, and a marshal of the United
States for the said district, all of whom shall be citizens of the
Territory of Hawaii and shall have resided therein for at least
three years next preceding their appointment. Said judges, attorney,
and marshal shall hold office for six years unless sooner removed
by the President.
"(c) The said court shall have, in addition to the ordinary jurisdiction
of district courts of the United States, jurisdiction of all cases
cognizable in a circuit court of the United States, and shall proceed
therein in the same manner as a circuit court; and the said judges,
district attorney, and marshal shall have and exercise in the Territory
of Hawaii all the powers conferred by the laws of the United States
upon the judges, district attorneys, and marshals of district and
circuit courts of the United States.
"(d) Writs of error and appeals from the said district court
shall be had and allowed to the circuit court of appeals for the
ninth judicial circuit in the same manner as writs of error and
appeals are allowed from circuit courts to circuit courts of appeal
as provided by law, and appeals and writs of error may be taken
to the Supreme Court of the United States from said district court
in cases where appeals and writs of error are allowed from the district
and circuit courts of the United States to the Supreme Court, and
the laws of the United States relating to juries and jury trials
shall be applicable to said district court. The laws of the United
States relating to appeals, writs of error, removal of causes, and
other matters and proceedings as between the courts of the United
States and the courts of the several States shall govern in such
matters and proceedings as between the courts of the United States
and the courts of the Territory of Hawaii. Regular terms of said
court shall be held at Honolulu on the second Monday in April and
October, and special terms may be held at such times and places
in said district as the said judges may deem expedient. The said
district judges shall appoint a clerk of said court at a salary
of $4,200 per annum and shall appoint a reporter of said court at
a salary of $3,000 per annum. The clerk of the district court with
the approval of the judges thereof may appoint two deputy clerks
at salaries of $2,500 each per annum.
43 Stat. 890] SIXTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch.
220. 1925.
Chap. 220.-An Act To authorize each of the judges of the
United States District Court for the District of Hawaii to hold
sessions of the said court separately at the same time.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
· United States of America in Congress assembled, That subdivision
(a) of section 86 of the Hawaiian Organic Act, as amended, is amended
to read as follows:
"Sec. 86. (a) That there shall be established in the said
Territory a district court, to consist of two judges, who shall
reside therein and be called district judges, and who shall each
receive an annual salary of $7,500. Tho two judges shall from time
to time, either by order or rules of the court, prescribe at what
times and in what classes of cases each of them shalI preside.
The two judges may each hold separately and at the same
time a session of the court (whether at the same or different terms
of court, regular or special) and may preside alone over such session.
The said two judges shall have the same powers in all matters coming
before the court; and in case two sessions of the court are held
at the same time, the judgments, orders, verdicts, and all proceedings
of a session of the court, held by either of the judges, shall be
as effective as if one session only were being held at a time."
Approved, February 12, 1925.
44 Stat. 919] SIXTY-NINTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch.
6. 1926.
[Historical notes reference 44 Stat.
19 which appears to be an error.]
CHAP. 6.--An Act To fix the salaries of certain judges of the
United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following
salaries shall be paid to the several judges hereinafter mentioned
in lieu of the salaries now provided by law, namely:
To the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
the sum of $20,500 per year, and to each of the Associate Justices
thereof the sum of $20,000 per year.
To each of the circuit judges the sum of $12,500 per year.
To each of the district judges the sum of $10,000 per year.
To the presiding judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals,
and to each of the other judges thereof, the sum of $12,500 per
year.
To the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of
Columbia, and to each of the associate justices thereof, the sum
of $12,500 per year.
To the Chief Justice of the Court of Claims, and to each of the
other judges thereof, the sum of $12,500 per year.
To the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia,
$10,500 per year, and to each of the associate justices thereof
the sum of $10,000 per year.
44 Stat. 92O]
To each of the members of the Board of General Appraisers, which
board functions as the Customs trial court, the sum of $10,000 per
year.
That all of said salaries shall be paid in monthly installments.
Sec. 2. This Act shall take effect on the first day of the first
month next following its approval.
Approved, December 13, 1926.